By RINA,
New Delhi: Low percentage of Muslim votes in last three rounds has alarmed Muslim leadership. Whereas Muslim organizations have launched special campaigns to motivate Muslim voters, a number of Ulema are stressing on significance of mandate in light of Qur’an and Hadith.
Addressing a gathering of local Muslims, the chairman of Jami’at Imam Waliullah Trust, Maulana Mohammad Kalim Siddiqui said, “As a Muslim, this is a Milli and religious responsibility of every Muslim to use his voting right in a country that our predecessors have established on democratic bases in spite of country’s division.”
Highlighting the importance of voting in the light of the Holy Qur’an and Hadith, Maulana Kalim Siddiqui said, “It is not allowable for a Muslim to avoid voting thinking that this is a worldly business.” He further exhorted, “If you have sense of voting you can topple biggest power. It is very depressing that Muslims are so much careless about voting whereas Qur’an holds them responsible in this connection.” He appealed to Muslim leaders and organizations to launch campaign for voting and voter cards.
on the other hand, AIMPLB’s Muzaffar Nagar ‘Islah-e-Mu’ashirah’ movement and members of Jame’ Masjid Mushawarati Council (JMMC) were also seen concerned with this problem in the town. At the end of a scooter rally that started from Azmat Girls School, Islah-e-Mu’ashirah president advocate Mehboob Alam said, “We earned the right to vote after umpteen sacrifices but our community is so much indifferent in this regards that they do not bother to come out of their homes to vote.”
Demanding the government to force people to vote, Mehboob Alam said, “Definitely use franchise for forming a better government and defending democracy.” JMMC member Mohammad In’aam Qureshi also appealed to Muslims to vote in greater numbers. In a meeting of U. P. Minority School Promotion Board, Maulana Fahim Siddiqui said, “This will greatest demonstration of Muslims’ intelligence and political awareness if they use maximum possible franchise.”